Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2573
Date signed:
Date published:
Decision by: Lucinda Turner, Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration
Executive summary
In June 2019 the Mayor agreed a standing delegation to the Assistant Director, Planning, to enter into bespoke planning performance agreements (PPAs) for complex planning schemes up to a cap of £250,000 on a cost-recovery basis from the developer to cover GLA officer and, if required, consultant costs. The delegation was to be exercised through an ADD decision form for each PPA.
A PPA for £60,000 has been agreed with the developer of the Bromley-by-Bow Gasholder Site.
Decision
That the Assistant Director of Planning and Regeneration approves:
• the PPA in respect of the Bromley-by-Bow scheme
• the receipt of £60,000 on a cost-recovery basis from the developer St William.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1. Planning performance agreements (PPAs) were formally introduced into the planning system on 6 April 2008. These are principally aimed at major planning applications that need substantial amounts of officer time and negotiation throughout the life of the scheme. They allow officers to improve the quality of schemes that are eventually submitted as planning applications and determined. They also allow the GLA to charge for officer time taken up by larger-scale strategic schemes.
1.2. A Mayoral decision (MD2475) on 11 June 2019 gave delegated authority to the Assistant Director to enter into PPAs up to a cap of £250,000.
2.1. The principal objective is to maintain an effective high-quality strategic planning service at a time of pressure on resources, and growing external and corporate demands, by ensuring there are sufficient resources to deal with pre-application advice and applications, including call-ins by the Mayor. The expected outcomes are:
• a continued ability to deal with increasing workloads, particularly the pre-application service, by having sufficient resources in place
• allowing the GLA planning function to keep up with high and rising levels of demand for advice whilst delivering an efficient, fit-for-purpose strategic planning function for the Mayor.
2.2. In this case, the PPA will fund a series of pre-application meetings with the applicant (with attendance from Newham Council) for a scheme that envisages an employment-led mixed-use redevelopment of existing gasholder site. This will deliver an uplift in new and affordable homes, in addition to enhancements to the commercial floorspace, landscape and public realm. A concentrated series of meetings are necessary to develop a deliverable scheme that could meet the Mayor’s objectives and satisfy the council’s priorities.
3.1. Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, in making these decisions, due regard must be had to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation; and to advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations, between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics include age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation (and marriage or civil partnership status, for the duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination only). In this instance the proposals have been considered and are not expected to have any impacts on those with protected characteristics, as distinct from anyone else.
Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.1. Pre-application advice is fundamental to the implementation of the Mayor’s London Plan, which seeks to ensure that the city meets the challenges of economic and population growth with much needed housing and commercial floorspace, along with other associated social infrastructure and transport infrastructure to enable the development. The Mayor’s comments and decisions on referable planning applications is a key implementation tool of the London Plan. The pre-application service helps to ensure subsequent applications deliver London Plan objectives.
Risk management issues
4.2. Regular monitoring of income will be undertaken to ensure the costs of providing the service are covered; and the income is spent within the Regulations associated with the Local Government Act 2003.
Conflicts of interest
4.3. There are no conflicts of interest to note for any of those involved in the drafting or clearance of the decision.
5.1. Approval is being sought for expenditure of up to £60,000 for a PPA in respect of the Bromley-by -Bow scheme; and the receipt of £60,000 on a cost-recovery basis from the developer St William.
5.2. The PPA income and associated expenditure is budgeted for in 2022-23 within the Planning Unit budget.
5.3. The costs under this agreement will be capped. Any additional work required on the scheme over the approved amount would be subject to further approval via the Authority’s decision making process.
Signed decision document
ADD2573 Signed